Newlyn bank reopens... as an oddities, curios and collectables store

A half-ton safe, and a perfectly preserved Victorian fireplace are some of the features of a former Newlyn bank that has reopened for business. However, gone are the cashiers behind the counters at the former Barclays Bank on The Strand, to make way for oddities, curios and collectables.

Stephen Childs, the proprietor of newly-named The Strand, said: “It’s a lovely old building which I have sympathetically renovated keeping as many of the original features as possible; even the old bank safe has been given a polish.”

The Strand will exhibit vintage collectables, antiques, shabby chic and retro items from across the decades.

Stephen, who created the vintage emporium Steckfensters, in Chapel Street, Penzance, added: “I decided to set up a business in Newlyn as I like the attraction of the building, and being based in a working fishing port. Newlyn has a good hustle and bustle about it and we’re the only business like this in the port.”

Much has been made of the building’s original parkay flooring, high arch windows that bathe the interior in natural light and high ceilings. A maquette of the Newlyn fisherman sculpture - one of only three made by renowned Cornish sculptor Tom Leaper - will reside in an arch window above the entrance.

“I’ve always wanted to create something like this in Newlyn, something with a ‘wow’ factor,” said Stephen.

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The Strand will open its vault of curios and surprises on Saturday, October 26, at 10am.

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